Leeds table offer to sign defender after winning promotion to PL – report
Leeds United have tabled an offer to sign Chilean free agent Mauricio Isla, according to Argentine news outlet TyC Sports.
Isla, 32, is available after being released by Fenerbahce when his contract with the Turkish giants expired at the end of last month.
It is understood that the right-back has an offer from Real Betis, as well as Leeds, who are eyeing additions to their squad ahead of next season after winning promotion to the Premier League.
Marcelo Bielsa has managed Isla previously in his career when the Argentine was in charge of the Chile national team.
Isla has earned 115 caps for his country in a glittering career that has seen him play for Juventus, Marseille, Udinese and QPR.
While we expect Leeds to make some signings this summer, we don’t expect Bielsa to completely overhaul the squad that he won the Championship title with.
Isla can play in a number of different positions but has spent the last season playing primarily as a right-back for Fenerbahce. He can also play at left-back or on the wing.
Does Bielsa need a new right-back?
We fully expect Luke Ayling to be the first-choice right-back next season based on how well he did in the Championship while Bielsa does have back-up options in Stuart Dallas and Jamie Shackleton.
However Dallas has played mainly at left-back and Shackleton is more of a midfielder so Isla might be a handy option to have in reserve, especially as he is also someone who is quite versatile.
Isla’s experience will help too so this could be a decent deal for Leeds if they can beat Real Betis to signing the free agent.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites have also made an offer for this centre-forward.